As Erica Rimlinger said
I did not take any risks when I fell. I went with my adult children on a paved path in the park when I just didn’t stumble anything. I hit forward and left my feet behind me and my upper body raced towards the sidewalk. As a professional pianist, I thought I had trained myself not to use my hands to catch myself during a fall, but when the moment came, instincts overcame the intentions and I landed on my hands.
I quickly got up and insisted that I was fine. But after a few steps I started to doubt. My arms, wrists and hands had great pain. We turned around and went home.
The next day my elbows were bruising, swelling and beaming pain. One elbow felt worse than the other. I suspected that it was broken, but also found that it was strange that such a short fall would create the swing to break the bones.
Since my work requires the use of my arms and hands, I could not allow this injury to be unchecked by a health service provider (HCP). I am a full-time music professor and musician who performs both on the campus and in professional places across the country. My ability to play music is my living.
An X -ray was suspected: a bone in my elbow was broken. After my other elbow continued to pound and swelled, I also had X -rays, and there was also a broken bone in this elbow.
I had never broken a bone in my life and now I suddenly had two broken bones. After a few internet research, I came across a possible explanation for my sudden fragility: osteoporosis, an illness that weakens her bones. I called my HCP and asked if they thought that a bone density test would be a good idea for me. I was only 58 years old: Most insurance plans will usually only pay for bone density scans at the age of 60, but since I had a fracture and my HCP agreed that I should have the test, he was covered by insurance companies.
I had two risk factors for osteoporosis before autumn: I was a middle -aged woman with a small body frame. However, I had no other risk factors: osteoporosis did not run in my family, I never smoked, I took a daily multivitamin for women and trained regularly.
After the bone density had confirmed that I had osteoporosis, I felt frail and vulnerable and nervous about walking. I was always a runner, a hiker and a hiker. But now I have avoided these activities. I was afraid to fall and break other bones.
I took a medication to reduce bone loss. I started swimming instead of running. Swimming helped in many ways. I won strength, self -confidence and poor mass. I had always practiced yoga, but now concentrated more effort on building balance and strength during my practice.
2025
My elbows healed and I was grateful that my wrists were not broken. I could still play the piano. In addition to teaching, I am also a church musician. When my bones were broken, I only missed a Sunday at the piano. I didn’t play particularly well in the week when I had returned, and I had to postpone a recording project and delay a concert, but I was able to play the piano, and I was grateful for it. I had started playing the guitar for a music therapy program and earning my certification shortly before my autumn, and I had to learn this ability again after the bones were healed in my elbow.
My fall was three years ago and my doctor ordered a second bone test test a few months ago. I was amazed to find out that the medication that I had taken had reversed my bone loss. I will still be a risk of osteoporosis in the future, but now I have a less difficult version of it, which is referred to as osteopenia. This means that my bone density is lower than normal, but not low enough to be osteoporosis. Most people find out that they have osteopenia before they develop into osteoporosis – such as prediabetes before diabetes diagnosis. My diagnostic journey led me from the illness to the warning phase.
I share my story to understand women how important it is to take over their bone health. I want people to know that bone health develops – and they can improve their bone density through treatment and a healthy lifestyle.
I intend to keep my bone health in the right direction. In addition to my medication, I take vitamin D and calcium preparations and do exercises that build bone strength. I am grateful to continue to play music and enjoy the things I love, including hiking that I have avoided since my autumn. During a recent visit to my son in Colorado, my husband and I went to the mountains. I used hiking masts for additional stability, but I didn’t leave the fear of falling. Every time these poles were on the floor, it was music for my ears.
This educational resource was created with the support of Amgen and UCB.
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Our real women, real stories are the authentic experiences of women in real life. The views, opinions and experiences that are shared in these stories are not supported by healthwomen and do not necessarily reflect the official politics or position of healthwomen.
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